Used Suzuki Jimny 2018-2020 review

Was Suzuki's iconic miniature off-roader’s long-overdue overhaul worth the wait? Used car prices can fluctuate regularly, but quirky models that have a real cult following tend to hold their value well or even increase in value over time.This fact is epitomised by the fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny, a character-packed compact off-roader that has already gained modern classic status. We think it’s worthy of investment as soon as possible, considering how prices have trickled upwards since its launch in 2018.Due to limited supply and a short lifespan in the UK (the passenger car version was sold here for only two years and the van was pulled in 2024), the Mk4 Jimny is effectively a collector’s item. The classifieds are packed full of cars costing anywhere between £21k and £50k, depending on age and condition.Why spend over the odds on a Jimny, though, when the Dacia Duster and Fiat Panda both offer 4x4 capability at cheaper prices? Well, while those are solid alternatives, Japan’s baby Jeep has to be at the top of your wishlist for its combination of a brilliant go-anywhere attitude and sweet, retro-inspired looks.Thanks to its four-wheel drive system, low-range gearbox and Toyota Land Cruiser-rivalling breakover and departure angles, the Jimny is more than comfortable with being taken off the beaten track.It feels like a mountain goat, its light weight helping it to skip along rough tracks and muddy lanes – although we would exercise caution if any rock crawling is required, due to its low ground clearance.Then again, there are heaps of specialist firms offering upgraded suspension, wheels and underbody protection if you want to turn your Jimny into a Land Rover Defender killer.A rather less rounded on-road driving experience is the price you pay for such off-road capability. At lower speeds, the ride can be a little choppy, particularly on unkempt surfaces, although once you’re up to a brisk speed on cross-country roads, it settles down and irons out lumps and bumps well.There’s a lot of body roll through corners and the steering is slow-geared. But still, for the odd urban jaunt, it’s a fun little SUV to ride around in.Powering the Jimny is a 100bhp naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. There’s more than enough performance for barrelling around farmland, and enough pep for trips into and around town. It’s less suited to motorways, though, where it feels quite strained at higher revs.You will also notice an increase in decibels at higher speeds, albeit not as badly as you would in a classic Defender. Two versions of the Jimny were available in the UK, both with three doors only: the SZ4, which came with steel wheels, and the plusher SZ5, which added alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear privacy glass, climate control and heated seats.It also borrowed a 7.0in infotainment touchscreen from Suzuki’s Swift supermini, and while its graphics are a bit lacklustre, smartphone mirroring goes a long way to mitigating that.Inside the Jimny, there’s plenty of chunky physical controls, and while they do feel cheap, they make it easy to adjust functions on the move. Rear accommodation is only big enough for children (and just two of them, as there’s no middle seat), while the side-hinged boot can fit a few carrier bags at best.Therefore, if you’re going to be doing plenty of load-lugging, the Commercial, with its 863-litre cargo area (in place of the seats), is the Jimny to go for.In any case, there’s no better time to snap up a Jimny.There aren’t many compact 4x4s out there that will happily do the school run and a spot of green-laning all in the same day.

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